Wool combing machine



Dec. 8, 1953 MILLER 2,661,502

WOOL COMBING MACHINE Filed Dec. 30, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. By Lm; /?/W///er AM] My fi'g ATTORNEYS Dec. 8, 195 3 L. P. MILLER 2,661,502

WOOL COMBING MACHINE Filed Dec. 50, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. l0411's P Mflez" BY ATTORNEYS Dec. 8, 1953 P. MILLER 2,561,502

WOOL. COMBING MACHINE Filed D60. 50, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet s'IIlIIIIIIIIIIII/IIIIIII/Il.

M $24M M ATTORNEYS Dec. 8, 1953 Filed Dec. 50, 1949 L. P. MILLER WOOLCOMBING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR L 01121; Mi/[er M, ,zm

ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 8, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 15 Claims.

This invention relates to textile machinery and more particularly tomachinery suitable for combing wool fibers and the like. 7

The manufacture of worsted yarn comprises essentially cleaning thefibers, separating out and removing the short fibers, orienting theremaining fibers in parallel relation, and repeated doubling and drawingof the sliver to average out thin spots and produce a substantiallyuniform roving which subsequently is drafted and spun into a yarn.

In the so-called Bradford system the Noble comb is used for removingvegetable matter, neps and'short fibers from a previously formed sliverandlaying the remaining fibers parallel. Loose substantially untwistedslivers of wool are passed into a circular or Noble comb comprising aslowly rotating large outer combing circle provided with many closelyspaced pins and a pair of small inner -combing circles within andtangent to the outer circle which are also provided with pins, the smallcircles being rotated on fixed axes, the

' speeds of both the small and large circles at the points of tangencybeing substantially the same and the slivers being fed inwardly anddabbed into the pins of both the small and large circles at the pointsof tangency. Part of the combing of the wool fibers takes place as thewool is carried forward by the pins on the circles, the circlesdiverging from the point of tangen-cy so as to draw out the fibersproducing a combed fringe of fibers projecting from the pins of both thesmall and large circles. The fibers are carried by the circles todrawing ofi' rolls and aprons which pull the fibers of the projectingfringe from between the pins of the circles and carry the fibersinwardly, four combed ends ultimately being combined into a singlesliver and passedto a delivery can. The short fibers, neps and vegetablematter, commonly collectively called noils, remain in the pins of thesmall circle and are subsequently removed.

In the form shown of the present invention, three inner circles areprovided within the outer circle, the inner circles being spaced atsubstantially equal intervals of about 120. The three circleconstruction not only increases machine production by about 50% but alsoproduces 50% more ends to be combined into the single sliver fed to thedelivery can, thus averaging out in the combing process itselfinequalities of the sliver and reducing the number of subsequent drawingand doublingoperations required to produce a finished yarn.

Another feature found in the present invention is that the outer circleis stationary and the sliver feed supply does not revolve around theaxis of the large circle as in the conventional Noble comb, the innercircles being rotated on the axis of the outer circle in a planetarymotion together with the drawing ofi rolls and aprons, dabbing motions,star wheels, false twist motions and accessories. This constructionpermits the feeding of slivers from cans or from larger balls than isfeasible in the usual construction in which the slivers being fed to themachine are unreeled from balls rotating with the large circle upon itsaxis. Consequently, this invention yields a more uniform and homogeneouscombed sliver and reduces the number of splicing operations required ofthe machine operator.

-Another feature of the invention is that the drawing off rollers andaprons are automatically vertically reciprocated to equalize wear on theaprons and drawing off rolls from the passage of the slivers. In theconventional Noble comb, only the aprons are reciprocated.

Among the objects of the present invention are to provide a circularcomb of greatly increased production capacity; to provide a machine thatwill produce a more uniform homogeneous sliver; to provide a circularcomb in which the sliver supply is not rotated, so as to permit feedingfrom larger balls or cans; and to provide an improved system of drawingoff rolls and aprons.

Another object is to generally improve circular combing machines.

Further objects and objects relating to details and economies ofconstruction and use will more definitely appear from the detaileddescription to follow.

My invention is clearly defined in the appended claims. In the claims,as Well as in the description, parts are at times identified by specificnames for clarity and convenience, but such nomenclature is to beunderstood as having the broadest meaning consistent with the contextand with the concept of my invention as distinguished from the pertinentprior art. The form in which I have contemplated applying my inventionis illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of thisspecification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic top plan view of a combing machine constructedaccording to the present invention. Parts of the machine have beenomitted or broken away for clarity'of illustration.

Fig. 4- 'is'a somewhat diagrammatic'perspective view-of a mechanism forreciprocating the drawing 01f rolls and aprons.

Referring to Fig. 1, the wool to be combed is in sliver form and, asillustrated, has...previouslybeen wound into the balls 10,each"b'allhaving four ends that can be pulled off-simultaneously."

The balls i0 may be supported in racks l 1 formed of a pair of rollers.

are schematically shown:in Fig. l. Functionally, .this is the usualmethod of feeding .slivers into a-so-called "Noble. .type .of combing.machine, .exceptithat .the .whole feed .supply. andmechanism.does..not. revolve around the. axis of the-largo circle.

If .Idesired, the slivers omay be supplied from .stationaiycansasindicated in Fig.2 sohas'to eliminate the-ballingoperation .or:larger than customaryballs .may be used, this being 1f acilitated.by-a. construction in which the 'feeding mechanismmndthe heavy balls ofslivers being supplied-to the machine are stationary trather thanrotatedwith the-large combing circle as .in-conventional construction.Eaohsliven-is brought through 'a feed :bOX i2, 5

.the .feed tboxes extending radially outward "from the outer circle l5.Each feed box l2 forms a channel. for feeding :an iuncombedsliver -.tothe outer. circle J 5, and is pivotally mounted :on a horizontaltransverse pivot 'below tits-outer xend. =Eachfeed box-has 'atransversely I pivoted cover M WhiCh :may -be .raisedto: insert :a-.sliver :into the feed box. The "cover ltpressesdown-onthe sliver-dueitoitsuown weight and prevents outwardwithdrawal of the sliver fromthezfeed box. The .feed boxes :aresuccessively rocked about their=pivotsto feed the slivers into the combing machine. I The feed boxwarrangeme'ntas described I in this paragraph .is-conventional.

-.A large horizontal outer circle 15 isprovi'ded, this circle being more.or less :standard 'andiihaving an inner diameter of about 42%:inches..The circle. is provided" with several-rows of-'cciosiely spaced pins 16arranged rows extending through "the itop surface of the circle and :pro

i'ectingiupwardyas .is customary. There are manyiithousandspf pins It:on the icircle":l.5;rextending to the inner circumference of the-circleInithepreferred .form'" of the invention, :the outercircle;ithe"feedboxes andithe balls i'of wool in together with .the:racks I! *aretall' stationary rather-than being :rotatedsas a unit'about'lthe axis of the outer circle as in the conventional machine.

WA plurality oitinner circles ILpreferablythrcie orsmorerintnumber, are.located inside' of and tangent'ito the inner circumferencepf the outercirclezlE. The inner tcircles i'liare standard and customarily 116'inches in diameter. Theseicircles are each provided with concentric rowsof many very closelyispaced pins 11.9,thepins l9 extending u wardthrough'thetopisurtace of each circle e1'1radiacent"toithe :outsideedge' of the circles. The circles TI! are rotated ontheir own-axes andare supported on aframework includinga-round The "racks 'i'l which" arearranged about a large outer combingzcircle! :15,

plate 20 which carries the various parts to be described later.

For proper combing operation of the machine, it is necessary to heat theouter and inner combing circles l5 and IT, as is usual practice. This isaccomplished by an arcuate heater 98 (Fig. 3) located below each innercircle H, and a similarly shaped heater 99 located immediately below theouter circle [5. The heaters 98 and 99 are "preferably =:electric"resistance heaters, but conventional steam heaters may be used. A tubeI08 for receiving steam may also be located be- "*neath the outer circlel5 for heating it.

-.In operation of the machine, the inner circles I? are rotated on theiraxes in the direction in- "dicat'ediii Figa'l and at the same time theframework,.includingtheplate 20, is rotated as indicated 'aboutthe axisof the outer circle 15, the inner-circles H, in effect, rolling aboutthe inner circumference of the stationary outer circle. :Actually;:slightclearanceis maintained ibetween .theiinner. circles and the.-.outer -.circle, .-and .the

rotative speed of the vinnerzcircles is' 'suchxtha't :theredspracticallyrnorelative -moveinent at zthe :tached mechanism;:includingthe winner circles l? ,;is.'rotated'-as .a. unit within theoutencircle [5 ate. normal operatingispeednof I a-bout- 4- or :morerevolutions per minute.

.A-dabbing brush i lzis io'c'a'ted .andrmaintained above. the 'pointoftangemcy of eachiinner circle withtthe outer. circle I5. The:dabbingobrushes '2 I are reciprocated.xupwardly: and :i downwardly veryrrapidly by: conventionalxmechanism;1snot shown; incohlerttopress. the.uncomoed'. slivers finto thepins of-both jahezouterrcircletlB :anditheinner circles Ifzatrthep'oints 'ofttangency, which points progress:around'ithe rinner'rcircumfererrce .oi the Ii'large circlezin :thedirection indicated as the inner circles are rotated about the ax-is oftheouter circle. Preferably, the dabbing brushes 2| are ea'ch operatedbyranwele'ctric motor. In order" to prevent excessively rapid wear onthe d'abbing 'brushes'git is necessary that there be as little movementofthe'cir'clesas practicable when thehristles of 'the-dabbing' brushesZI I are engage'cl' with the pins of the circles at the end of theirdownward stroke. Accordingly. the '*dabbingbrushesare'given averyrapi'dup and down motion.

In theoperation of thema'chine, the pairs of drawing-off rolls arelocated functionally follow- 'ing the' points'of tangency of the inner"circles "I1 'an'd"the-'outer circle 15. Adriving'drawin'g oiT r0111: isl'ocateda'diacent' the inner'circumferencebfthe outercircle 1'5,aslindicatedin Fig." lifollowing thepoint of 'tangency. of eachinner'circle H. "The drawing ofi rolls '22 are usually fluted,and"'"drive' the "drivenifluted .roll 24 by contactthroughan'interposed. apron .25. The'rolls 24 'are'pressed towards therolls 22 by springs in the customary manner.

The apron or belt 125, whichisusually iformed of .leather,.extends in.av generally triangular path asindicatedin Fig; 1, theapronpassing/between .the.drawing off .rolls and 24. A pairnof idlerrolls'2.6,.- 26 alsosupporttheapronZE and an apron guide .2! holds theapron'nearl'the'iinner circumference of therouter 'circle'li. Thus,there are threezaprons 25,:one for each circle i".

The operation 'ofthe machine is suchth'atthe inneri circles T1 -progress'in' a planetary motion along the inner circumference of the outercircle '5 in the direction indicated in Fig. 1. Part of the sliver thathas been dabbed into the pins l6 and I9 at each point of tangency willbe pulled through the pins as the circles diverge, separating the pins,the individual fibers being retained in either one or the other set ofpins and forming a combed fringe projecting from both circles. Hence,there will be a fringe of combed fibers projecting inwardly from theinner circumference of the outer circle [5 and outwardly from the outercircumference of the inner circle H, the remaining portions of thefibers in the fringe remaining in the pins of their respective circlesin an uncombed condition.

As each apron moves with its circle IT in a counterclockwise directionabout the axis of the outer circle l5, the apron simultaneously ismoving in a clockwise direction about the rolls 24 and 26 at a greaterrelative linear velocity than that of the rolls 22 and 24 along theinner circumference of circle It, as indicated in Fig. 1, the apronserving to direct the loose ends of the fibers supported on the largecircle l5 towards the nip of the drawing off rolls 22 and 24. As theprojecting fringe of combed fibers reaches the drawing off rolls, it isnipped and the remaining uncombed lengths of the fibers are pulledthrough the pins I6 of circle [5 thus being combed and passed betweenthe rolls along with the aprons 25. Since the operation is continuous,an end of combed sliver is formed which is carried inwardly along theface of the apron.

The fibers carried as a fringe on each inner circle I! are orientedtowards a second pair of drawing off ro-lls and 3! by a star wheel 29adjacent each small circle. Each star wheel 29 rotates on a horizontalaxis somewhat above the circles and projections extend radiallyoutwardly on the periphery of the star wheel, these projections at thelower portion of the wheel engaging the fibers and pointing them towardsthe drawing off rolls for each inner circle. Each star wheel 29 may bedriven from the motor driving the adjacent dabbing brush. The innercircle and star wheel relationship is conventional and well known in theart.

The drawing off rolls for each inner circle comprise a driving drawingofi roll 30 and a driven drawing ofi' roll 3!, these rolls beinggenerally similar to the rolls 22 and 24. The driven roll 3| is drivenby frictional engagement with a leather apron 32 passed between therolls. The apron 32 extends beside a portion of the apron 25, asindicated in Fig. 1, both of these aprons aiding in supporting andprogressing the end coming off the outer circle. The apron 32 is carriedon a pair of idler rollers 34 and directs the ends of the projectingfibers of the inner circle I! between the drawing off rolls 30 and 3| inthe manner of the apron 25 above described. The end from the outercircle 15 and the end from the inner circle I? are doubled at thedrawing oil rolls 30 and 3| into a common end.

The other two inner circles I! operate in a like manner in associationwith the outer circle to produce a composite end combined from theindividual ends delivered by each pair of drawing oif rolls 30 and 3|.The composite or combined ends then pass inwardly to a rapidly rotatingfunnel or so-called false twist trumpet 35 which is rapidly rotated onthe axis of the outer circle IS with which its axis coincides. Thetrumpet 35 combines the composite ends from each pair of drawing offrolls 30 and 3| into a single sliver rotating portions of the machineand into a secend false twist trumpet 92 which may be revolved usuallyin the opposite direction as illustrated in Fig. 3, the false twist onlyserving to give strength to the sliver to take it from the machine. Thesliver is then passed through a third revolving ,i false twist trumpetwhere the false twist is removed thence into a can, preferably by aconventional can coiler (not shown) or wound into a ball on aconventional balling head (not shown).

The noil (short fibers, neps and vegetable mats ter) is'retained withinthe pins [9 of each inner circle 11 since these fibers do not projectsufficiently from the inner circles to be caught and drawn by the nip(point of contact of the drawing off rolls 30 and 3 l The noil iscarried in the pins l9 to the noil brush 36 which is a circular brushfree to revolve on a substantially horizontal axis and having itsbristles engaged against the pins I9 to revolve the brush. The noilbrush 36 serves to raise the noil to the top of the pins l 9, and curvedstationary noil knives (not shown) located between the rows of pinsdirect the noil into a noil chute or duct 31 leading to a noilreceptacle. The noil brushes and noil knives are conventional.

The feed mechanism for the uncombed slivers will now be described ingreater detail. The uncombed slivers are fed inwardly over the outercircle 15 by increments in an amount about equal to the width of therows of pins of each inner circle IT, and this feed must take placbetween the drawing off rolls 22 and 24 associated with one inner circleH and the point of tangency of the following inner circle W. This feedis produced by rocking each feed box on its pivot so as to raise theinner end of the feed box, the ends of the slivers being held in thepins it of the outer circle by the adjustable feed knives 42 as shown inFig. 2, the ball I 0 being rotated slightly to give the necessary slackin the sliver.

The ball It may be rotated by a ratchet feed arrangement, well known inthe art, for intermittently rotating the rolls forming the rack ll.lT'he ratchet feed may be actuated by cams (not shown) revolved with theplate 20, one cam being provided for each inner circle IT.

The feed boxes are successively raised by the feed box cams 39' (one foreach inner circle) carried on the feed box cam ring 43 extending underthe feed boxes and rotating with the plate 20 to rock the feed boxes ontheir pivots. This moves the inner end of the feed box together with thesliver (which is located somewhat above the pivot) upwardly.Simultaneously, concentric curved feed knives 2 (Fig. 2), the outer oneof which is located adjacent the outer row ofpins of the outer circlel5, hold the uncombed sliver in the pins It of the outer circle. Thefeed knives 42 (see Fig. 2) are adjustable vertically to vary the lengthof the feed and are mounted on the plate 20 and rotated in a circleabout the axis of the outer circle 15. Holding the sliver end in thepins of the circle l5. while raising the inner end of the feed box l4advances the uncombed sliver through the feed box. Following this,lifting knives (not shown) placed between each row of pins of circle l5and revolving with plate 20 lift the sliver out of the pins I6. Afterthe sliver has been freed from the pins of circle [5, the feed box cam39 terminates so as to permit the feed box l2 to drop to its normalposition. This allows ageernsosz thel-ends oi the/slivers to :moveinwardly where they are ih'eld' abo've :the-bins'l 6 by a "plate :(notshown) until wthe dabb'ing ..:point (point of tangency) isrreached; I.The sliverwis then'in positionztc beuabbed-into the pins tilt and 19 ofthe outernand inner circles by the :da-bbingrbrush .2 I. This fieed isfunctionally the .same as in-conventional combs.-

The above-described feed :occurs successively along the line offeedboxesastheinnercircles l1 rotate :in their -orbit= about the axiseof:theouter circle-I 5. 'The'feed 'takes place simultaneously at threeequally spaced points about the outer .circle.

:Thefeed of 'thez'machine' may be rendered more uniform by feedingeachz'sliver independently from a-separate'can 'l0I,:as indicated in?Fig. :2. In zsu'ch an arrangement, each sliver may :be fed at :a speedregulated by rthe'feed cams. I 3.9 Land feed lknives=e42 "andcnotaffected :by thefiother slivers of the ball (as in the: conventionalmachine)-ror the thendiameter of :the: ball. .iI'his ieediarrangementgives a moreiuniformifeed. and contributes-to a moreuniformsliverwithfless adjustment'of the feedknives.

:Maintenance: and replacement of "the aprons of 'conventional "circularcombing machines represent a very substantialportion of the *operatingexpense. In the dorm shown of the present invention, in order toequalize wear on the aprons 5za'hd '32, the-apronsztogether' with the:drawing off =roll's"22,"24; *3lland3 I and the idler rolls =26 and'34zareslowly reciprocated over avertical interval ofz'aboutt2 Aginchestoxpreventtheslivers coming cff-the circles from running onthesameportion ofathe-aprons at all :times. This :is accomplished bycarryingthe drawing or rolls and idler frolls-on a horizontal iplate fl:'(Eig.u4) whichiisslowly reciprocated "in. a vertical direction, theplate :in- :cl-uding rs'tiftening 'membersrmountedron theundersiderthere'of.

Referring -to' Fig; 4', the.mechanism :fortreciproeating the plate 44''comprisesan-relectric motor 45 which-is supported by the plate 20 of.the combing machine and drives an internally threaded sleeve 46 througha speed-reducing gear train -41 and a universal joint 49. A rod 50 isthreaded- .ly engaged with the sleeve '46, the rod beingpivotallyconnectedto a lever fixed to a cross shaft 52 journaled inbearings 54 fixed .to :the revolving plate 200f the machine. Two levers-55; 55'fixed to the shaft 52 arepivotallyconnected with the plate 44 bylinks 56, 56.

The opposite side of the plate 44 is supported and'simultaneouslyreciprocated by a mechanism including an arm 51 fixedto the shaft 52and-in the plane of the arm 51. A link 59 connects the arm 51=with asimilar arm 60' fixed to a' shaft Bl parallel to the shaft 52 andsupportedin a'bear- 'ing .62 supported on the revolvingplate 20 of themachine. A lever 64, similar to the levers 55, 55, isconnected-with theplate 44 by a link 65. Oscillation of the Fshaft52 serves to alternatelyraise and 'lower (reciprocate vertically) the plate 44 in suitableguides (not shown) The-motor is periodically reversed by an electricswitch 66 which'is operated by a projecting'finger 61 carried by theshaft'50. The sleeve 46 is periodically reversely rotated as the finger61- moves back and forth with the rod 50, reciprocating the rod andoscillating the shaft 52 to vertically reciprocate the plate 44 uponwhich the drawing -'ofi rolls and idler rolls are carried.

1 The foregoing mechanism slowly vertically reciprc'cates the drawingoff rolls, idler rolls and aaprons through a. distance of about 2%inchesso iii as'ctc sspreadi-Lthe' weansiont-ithe'i aprons and sthe:drawing o'ffzrolls'.

The driving zmechamsmwatonxthetrcombingemachineisishown"dia'grarnmaticallyzinFig: 3. The machine -isv'drivenlxby an'electric qn'otorviirrot shown) which desiccated .near :the :base': ofthe machine :to Y minimize' vibration and which drives a shaft 6'9'connected with: a gear. box 1 0. iAishaft f! l' aleads :frcm the-gearboxtand,-*turnlng at revdueedsspeedp drives :a' pinion z12 rmeshingvwith' a large ge'ar 14. The i gear 4 is' stationary and fixed: to thestation'arytframecfthe combing-ma chine, rtheim'otor and'ithe gear b'ox:10 being car Tied-on. a frama not'shcwn; of which thezplate'ifl is apart and which is mouhted forrotaticn-about the axis'bfltheoutercircle'15. The pinion 12 ro- .tates this frame-ate speed of 4" ormorerev'oluti'ons perminute. I

-iEach inner: circle: 4:1," which rotates=about the axisoffthe'oiltercircle on the-rotating framezplate '2.0, .3is'= supportedon? assmall circle: plate Ni -and driven .rromxthe gear 4- bya shaftfl5lhaving pinions 36, 216: at either: end,ztheupper pinion' fi meshlnglwithifan inner circle driving geaf fl lecatedimmerliately below thesmall' circle plate-H 8. Although. rtnefdrive': .forrcnlyrone "innercircle wi l hag'beenishewnirth ctheritwo' 'circles are'driven in. a'sir'nilarm'anner.

The drawing bff rclls 22: and-.24 are driven from the gear box' 76ithroughuniversal joints' I 9 and gear train BO'xdriving: a' 'shaft8'l'- which- 'in turn drives a crown gear- 82 "journaled on the axis-ofthe outer combing circle l5. --Th'e' 'gear 82' in turn drives a shaft 84whichzdrives' the' drawing 1 'off roll "s'h'aftcfiii. rThe othertwdpa'irs of'drawing err rolls zzandzllare similarlyrdri-venfrom the'gear 32.

'Forfidrivinglthe drawingiofi'rolls' M and 3 I ;a secondrcrown'gear86"is' driven from'th gear-train filthy-means ofa shaftt'l-'this"crown*gea1 driving a alarget spur gear' 89 'located on "the -axis"of "the outer. combingr r'circle' i-5w'and f driving the drawingoff-roll shaft QO of th drawing off 'roll 30. "The other two pairsbfdrawing bfi Tens-:3 0- and 3 1- are similarly driven from the gear89.-

"Arne 1 gear traintogether With the- 'gears 82, 86 and 89 and thedrawing off rolls and their drive shafts i are verticallyzrecipro'catedwith-theplate 44; itn .:universal Mints 19 allowing for this-wen tical:movement. 1m addition, all these parts tog ether with the' motor and the'gear'box' 'lfl,1plate "28, and 1 associated parts" are "rotated a'boutthe axisof theouter circle 1'5.

-A shaft 9 drivenfrom the 'shaft'69; 'serves' to drive th trumpet 35'and a second "trumpet 92, the flrs'tftrumpetj' putting a 'falsetwistfintothe combed sliver coming. 'fromfthe. pairs .of innerdrawingofi'iollers 30 and.3l and the second reversing the false twist.These trumpetsmay be driven by belts .from the'sha'ft '91, the trumpetsturning 'inoppositedirection- "Asabove-noted, the trumpet-35 ispreferablyirotated -on-the-axis of the outer circle 15.'TheLtrumpet'BZwmay also be rotated on this axis,..the sliver beingtakenzoflf laterally fromnbove this trumpet.

A can coiler, .notshcwn, of conventionallconstruction maybedrivemfrom.the'hub of the" gear .82 by a shaft 94 -located-.on the aXlsfiOf"the-outer circle 45. 1 The shaft :94 a is not reciprocated with thegear 82, "a slip joint 95 being provided. at its upperend. -A- laterallyextending Sha'ft' 96 driven irom the'shaft'94 is-connected withlthe can"coiler. 'If desired; the machine r'may be driven through theshaft-GB ofthe can rcoiler drive, ratherthan driven by a motor rotated with theinner circles and associated mechanism. 7

The mechanism for operating each dabbing brush 2| may be carried fromshaft or'column 91 (Fig. 3). The column 91 is not rotated on its ownaxis nor reciprocated vertically, but is rotated about the axis of theouter circle l5 with the p ei t 1. In a circular combing machine fortextile fibers, large outer combing circle and a plurality of innercombing circles tangent to the outer circle, means fixedly mounting theouter circle with reference to a support, means for rotating the innercircles in a planetary motion along the inner circumference of the outercircle, and guide means located on the axis of the outer circle forreceiving the combed sliver and conducting it axially from the machine.

2. In a. circular combing machine for textile fibers, a large outercombing circle and a plurality of inner combing circles tangent to theouter circle, means fixedly mounting the outer circle with reference toa support, means for rotating the inner circles in a planetary motionalon the inner circumference of the outer circle, and a rotating trumpethaving its axis of rotation substantially coincident with the axis of thouter circle for receiving the combed sliver and conducting it axiallyfrom the machine. I

3. In a circular combing machine for textile fibers, a large outercombing circle and a plurality of inner combing circles tangent to theouter circle, means fixedly mounting the outer circle, means forrotating the inner circles in a planetary motion along the innercircumference of the outer circle, and a pair of oppositely rotatingtrumpets having their axes substantially coincident with the axis'of theouter circle for receiving the combed sliver and conducting it axiallyfrom the machine.

4. In a circular combing machine for textile fibers, the machine havinga large outer combing circle, a plurality of inner combing circlestangent to the outer circle, and pairs of drawing-off rolls positionedadjacent the outer and inner circles for drawing the combed fiberstherefrom, the improvement which comprises: means fixedly mounting theouter circle, means supporting the inner circles and drawing-off rollsfor rotation about their own axes, and means for rotating said innercircles and drawing-off rolls about their own axes and for rotating saidsupporting means about the axis of the outer circle.

5. In a circular combing machine for textile fibers, the machine havinga large outer combing circle, a plurality of inner combing circlestangent to the outer circle, and pairs of drawing-off rolls positionedadjacent the outer and inner circles for drawing the combed fiberstherefrom, the improvement which comprises: means fixedly mounting theouter circle, a single support mounting the inner circles, anddrawing-on? rolls for rotation about their own axes, means for rotatingsaid support about the axis of the outer circle, and means for rotatingthe inner circles on their axes, including a gear concentric with theouter circle.

6. In a circular combing machine for textile fibers, the machine havinga large outer combing circle and a plurality of inner combing circlestangent to the outer circle, the improvement which comprises: meansfixedly mounting the outer circle and means for rotating the inner 10circles in a planetary motion along the inner circumference of the outercircle.

7. In a circular combing machine for textile fibers, the machine havinga large outer combing circle and an inner combing circle tangent to theouter circle, the improvement which comprises: means fixedly mountingthe outer circle and means for rotating the inner circle in a planetarymotion along the inner circumference of the outer circle.

8. In a circular combing machine for textile fibers, the machine havinga large outer combing circle, a plurality of inner combing circlestangent to the outer circle, and pairs of drawingofi" rolls operatingadjacent the outer circle for drawing the combed fibers from the outercircle and the inner circles, the improvement which comprises: meansfixedly mounting the outer circle, means for rotating the inner circlesand the drawing-01f rolls in unison about the axis of the outer circle,and means for rotating the inner circles and drawing-off rolls on theirown axes.

9. In a circular combing machine for textile fibers, a large outercombing circle and a plurality of inner combing circles tangent to theouter circle and spaced along the outer circle at substantially equalintervals not in excess of means fixedly mounting the outer circle withreference to a support, and means for rotating inner circles on theirown axes and also about the axis of the outer circle to produce arolling motion of the inner circles about the inner circumference of theouter circle.

10. In a circular combing machine for textile fibers, a large outercombing circle and a plurality of inner combing circles tangent to theouter circle and spaced along the outer circle at substantially equalintervals of approximately 120, means fixedly mounting the outer circlewith reference to a support, and means for rotating inner circles ontheir own axes and also about the axis of the outer circle to produce arolling motion of the inner circles about the inner circumference of theouter circle.

11. In a circular combing machine for textile fibers, a large outercombing circle and a plurality of inner combing circles tangent to theouter circle, means fixedly mounting the outer circle with reference toa support, means for rotating the inner circles in a planetary motionalong the inner circumference of the outer circle, dabbing brushmechanism located above the circles and rotated with the inner circlesfor applying uncombed slivers to the circles at the points of tangency,and means for taking the combed sliver from the machine above the levelof the dabbing brush mechanism.

12. In a circular combing machine for textile fibers, a large outercombing circle and a plurality of inner combing circles tangent to theouter circle, means fixedly mounting the outer circle with reference toa support, means for rotating the inner circles in a planetary motionalong the inner circumference of the outer cirole, mechanism forsuccessively feeding individual uncombed slivers to the machine at thepoint of tangency of the circles, and means for supplying eachindividual uncombed sliver to the feed mechanism independently of thesupply of the adjacent slivers.

13. In a circular combing machine for textile fibers, a large outercombing circle, a plurality of inner combing circles tangent to theinner combing circle, and drawing-off rolls and aprons adjacent theouter and inner circles for taking combing circle in a planetarymovement',; and.

combing the fibers between the outer combingv circle and the innercombing circle as a result of the divergentv paths; of. the-. circles,

15.: The method, of l combing fibers of wool and the like, comprisingimaintaining an .OutI..C0mb'- ing circle stationary, rotatingaplurality. of inner;

12 combing circles along -.the1-inner.- circumference of the outercombing circle-intalplanetarymovement; and. combing; thefibers between"the router combing circle and the inner combing circlesr as a result ofthe-divergent paths of theinner-and outer-combing. circles;

LOUIS P. MILLER-x References Cited in the file of this patent.

UNL'IED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 259,790 Austin June 2O;-1882373,890 GreenWood-et a1; Nov. 29,4887 911,115 Cooper Feb.2, 19'09'FOREIGN, PATENTS Number Country Date 151 Great Britain; of 11870: 4,600Great Britain. off1897' 4,911: Great-Britain of; 1895 17,610 France.01151856

